Edward Dowling

Rank:	Lance Corporal
Street:	6 College Lane
Townland:
Town/Village:	Athlone, Co. Westmeath
Civil Parish:
Catholic Parish:
Country:
Alternative Address:	Co. Longford; Athlone, Co. Westmeath; Artane Industrial School, Dublin.
Census 1901:	Living with his mother's family, the Kellys. The name is incorrectly transcribed as 'Dawling'. www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Westmeath/Athlone_Town/Glasses_Lane/1773023/
Census 1911:	Resident at Artane Industrial School www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Dublin/Drumcondra_Rural/Artaine_South/12314/
Regiment/Unit:	Leinster Regiment, 7th Battalion
Regiment Number:	10553
Date of Death:	31-07-1917
Cause:	Killed in action, 3rd Battle of Ypres
Memorial:	Potijze Chateau Lawn Cemetery, Belgium.
Information:	Edward was born in Co. Longford in 1897. The family later moved to Athlone. After his father's death, Edward's mother sent him and his eldest siblings to Artane Industrial School for an education. However, in 1914, he ran away and joined the army, aged just 17. L Cpl Dowling served at the Battle of the Somme in 1916 was a recipient of the Military Medal (MM) for bravery, but sadly he was killed a year later near Ypres. His story is told in Neil Richardson's book, A Coward if I Return, a Hero if I Fall* (Dublin, 2010), pp158-9. Edward's uncle, also Lance Corporal Edward Dowling, served with the 5th Connaught Rangers in WW1; sadly he also died and is buried in Gibraltar (North Front) Cemetery.
Parents Names:	Son of William and Bridget Dowling (née Kelly), Athlone, Co. Westmeath.
Notes:	*His birth does not appear to have been registered. His mother's address was 6 College Lane, Athlone.
Links:	Link to CWGC entry; Link to his will; notice of death, Freemans Journal;